Description
Object description
British boy seaman at HMS Ganges at Shotley and HMS St George on Isle of Man in GB, 1939-1940; boy seaman, seaman and petty officer served aboard HMS King George V in GB coastal waters, Atlantic, Arctic, Far East and Pacific, 1940-1946; petty officer served with Royal Naval Reserve in GB, 1948-1952
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1924-1939: education; church activities; employment. Aspects of period as boy seaman with HMS Ganges at Shotley and HMS St George on Isle of Man in GB, 1939-1940: selection procedure; journey to Shotley, 9/1939; reception on arrival; issue of kit; drill; swimming test; climbing mast.
REEL 2 Continues: adjusting to naval life; allocation to Collingwood Mess; punishment for smoking; mess life and arrangements; morning divisions; physical training; pay; shore leave; contact with home; mining of HMS Gypsy in Harwich harbour, 11/1939; attitude of parents to naval service; transfer to HMS St George on Isle of Man, 1940; waiting for draft in boys mess at Victory Barracks, Portsmouth including German Air Force raids.
REEL 3 Continues: Recollections of operations as boy seaman, seaman and petty officer aboard HMS King George V in GB coastal waters, Atlantic, Arctic, Far East and Pacific, 1940-1945: drafting to battleship at Newcastle on Tyne, 11/1940; initial impressions of ship; organisation of boy seamen; action station; role as side boy; duties in shell room; new duties as communication number in turret; ship's armament; description of turret crews; watch system worked; move to Rosyth, then Scapa Flow; working up trials.
REEL 4 Continues: presence of Admiral's staff on board; transporting Lord Halifax to US; recreational activities at Scapa Flow; entertainments on board; separation of boy seamen from rest of ship's company; discipline; convoy escort duties.
REEL 5 Continues: reaction to loss of HMS Hood, 5/1941; taking up action stations prior to engaging of Bismarck; reaction to sight of Bismarck sinking; return to GB; hospitalisation for tonsillitis and recuperation; return to ship; collision with HMS Punjabi on Arctic convoy, 4/1942; conditions on board during Arctic convoys; promotion to ordinary seaman; leaving ship to attend seaman torpedoman, 1943; rejoining ship after service aboard HMS Royalist, 1944.
REEL 6 Continues: voyage from GB to Far East including method of dealing with grounding in Suez Canal; bombardment on route to Australia; ashore in Australia; joining American 3rd Fleet in Pacific; contact with US Navy including visit to USS Missouri; life as petty officer and responsibilities as torpedoman petty officer; electrical facilities on board ship; organisation of torpedo/electrical branch; duties with damage control centre during bombardments; duration of period at sea and cruising stations.
REEL 7 Continues: move to Tokyo Bay for surrender of Japanese; transporting ex-POWs; leave in Australia; return to GB; cruise around GB coast, 1946; reaction to leaving ship. Aspects of period as petty officer with Royal Naval Reserve in GB, 1948-1952: background to leaving Royal Navy, 1948; duties with Royal Naval Reserve; call up from reserve during Korean War and drafting to HMS Osprey; demobilisation, 1952.
REEL 8 Continues: Reflections on service as boy seaman, seaman and petty officer aboard HMS King George V, 1939-1948: advancement in Royal Navy; seamen pastimes; dancing practice; memories of Newfoundlanders at regattas; behaviour of one chief petty officer aboard HMS King George V; amusing story relating to ship's captain; reasons why ship was a happy ship.